DNP Program

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

Taking the steps toward becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice helps propel you to your highest potential. The University of Mississippi School of Nursing is here to take that step with you.

Whether you are a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, nurse administrator or staff development professional, the DNP program at UMMC is the right choice for you. The DNP program is also the perfect choice for nurses with a background in public or community health. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program's emphasis is on health-care delivery - and the health-care delivery system as a whole - as well as the clinical populations served. The DNP degree will advance your application of nursing knowledge for the purpose of improving health care to diverse populations.

One degree, multiple entry points

Post-baccalaureate – The newest entry point to the DNP program, the BSN-DNP option is designed to help baccalaureate-prepared RNs achieve the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree seamlessly and expeditiously. This entry point is the right choice for RNs seeking professional advancement and growth by bypassing the master’s degree and instead obtaining a DNP. This post-baccalaureate entry point also gives students three areas of emphasis from which to choose: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner and Nursing and Health Care Administrator.

Post-master's – If you are an advanced practice nurse or administrator with a master’s degree already, and if you wish to obtain the highest level of professional and educational advancement, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Mississippi School of Nursing is the right choice for you. A practiced-focused doctoral program, the DNP program prepares experts in specialized advanced nursing practice. The DNP program focuses heavily on practice that is innovative and evidence based, reflecting the application of credible research findings.

Post-master's early-entry – Early entry into the DNP program is a viable option for current MSN students who, ultimately, seek the nursing field’s terminal practice degree. The early-entry option provides a smooth transition from master's coursework to doctoral coursework while allowing MSN students from the University of Mississippi and Alcorn State University to reserve a spot in the competitive DNP program and complete their master's degree simultaneously.